Deputy Associate Medical Directors:

Older Adult Mental Health services are part of the Mental Health Network. Within this network, we maintain a strong and independent identity. There are approximately 35 older adult consultants working through the Trust in inpatient, liaison, and community services.

The consultants meet up on a regular basis and have a collegiate and supportive relationship. We are well lead by our associate medical director (AMD), Dr Alison Napier, who is a strong advocate for older adult mental health.

Inpatient Services

Inpatient services are predominantly based at the Harbour in Blackpool which is a modern hospital providing excellent inpatient facilities and care. There are four older adult wards providing 30 dementia assessment beds and 36 beds for those with functional mental health needs. A PICU is also available on site. Additional inpatient facilities are also provided in a new unit at Hillview on the Royal Blackburn Hospital Site.

The wards are well supported by trainees of all grades as well as a full multi-disciplinary team including psychologists, pharmacists, nurses, support workers, and administrative staff. We also have in-reach from the Care of the Elderly Team, dieticians, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, and podiatry. There is access to phlebotomy and ECG support most working days and access to a 24hr primary care advice helpline.

Community services are based around the following teams:

Rapid Intervention and Treatment Team (RITT)

RITT sees patients with acute mental health needs at home or in care homes with the aim of preventing admission to hospital or care home and to facilitate early discharge from the inpatient wards. It provides time-limited input to patients referred who have higher needs or risks requiring more intensive input than can be provided by the CMHT. RITT also incorporates the older adult single point of access and care home liaison teams.

Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)

The CMHT provides care coordination for people with complex mental health problems that can’t be managed solely in primary care. This can include people on antipsychotic medication, those with frequent relapses, or that require risk management. In keeping with the ‘new ways of working’ the medical input is provided in a consultancy model and direct clinical care both in the outpatient clinic and at the patient’s home depending on needs.

Memory Assessment Service (MAS)

MAS offers memory assessment to all working age adults who are experiencing difficulties with cognitive function and are suspected to have a progressive cognitive disorder. Our memory assessment teams are staffed with neuropsychologists, OTs, support workers, and nurses. They are actively involved in recruiting patients for dementia research.

If you wish to have an informal discussion about working in older adult services in LCFT, then please contact Dr Alison Napier (see above), the deputy associate medical directors, or Dr Mark Worthington mark.worthington@lancashirecare.nhs.uk or Tel: 01253 957041.